New York Dog Bite Lawyer
Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP.
A Brief Summary of the Following Page
- Owner Responsibility: New York’s one-bite law does not require proving owner negligence for medical expenses after a dog bite but does for other damages, necessitating evidence of the dog’s prior dangerous behavior.
- Evidence Collection: Filing a dog bite claim requires substantial evidence like video footage, witness statements, and medical reports to establish the owner’s failure to control the dog and prevent the attack.
- Compensation Scope: Claimants can seek comprehensive damages, including medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering, contingent upon demonstrating the dog owner’s negligence beyond the immediate medical expenses.
- Legal Support: The Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP provides expertise in navigating the complexities of dog bite claims under New York law, offering free case evaluations and guidance through negotiation or trial.
You want to trust every dog you come into contact with on the street. Unfortunately, there are some dog owners who fail to take care of their dogs. An owner who lets their dog off their leash or fails to train their dog can cause a dangerous dog bite accident. Fortunately, you can take action against these owners under New York’s one-bite law.
A New York dog bite lawyer from The Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP can help you overcome your losses in civil court. When you file a civil claim against a negligent owner, you can secure the compensation you need to pay your medical bills and get back on your feet. If you’re ready to learn more about the ways the civil process can benefit you, you can book a free case evaluation with our personal injury attorneys now.
New York’s One Bite Law
New York law states that dog bite accident victims have the right to hold an owner legally liable for any medical bills associated with their accident. Victims are not obligated to prove that a dog owner engaged in negligence or otherwise endangered them.
You must take additional steps if you want to argue for other damages, though. Should you want to recover compensation for pain and suffering, property damage, or other losses involved in your accident, you have an obligation to bring forward proof indicating that:
- A dog’s owner failed to control the dog
- A dog’s owner engaged in negligence while managing the dog
You must additionally prove that a dog’s owner knew the dog was dangerous and/or had a history of violent behavior. The state defines a “dangerous” dog as a dog that has attacked another party, be that another animal or person, in the past. The dog may also be classified as dangerous if they behave in a way that makes a reasonable person suspect the dog may cause them serious injury or death.
“One Bite” Versus “Free Bite”
Under New York’s interpretation of “one bite” policies, dogs have a “free bite.” This means that dogs may bite another entity once before the law considers them dangerous. However, that initial bite may serve as proof that the dog has engaged in dangerous behaviors in the past.
You can work with a New York dog bite attorney to bring evidence of a dog’s violent history forward in a personal injury claim. The evidence you use to highlight a dog’s history of violence may include another person’s injury report or witness testimony. Police officers who wrote reports about a previous dog bite may also see their evidence included in your personal injury claim.
What Evidence to Include in a Dog Bite Claim
If you want to file a dog bite accident claim in civil court, you have an obligation to prove more than a dog’s violent history. You must also bring forward enough evidence to prove that a dog’s owner failed to prevent the violence that led to your accident. This evidence may include the following:
- Video footage of the attack
- Witness statements
- Physical evidence, including bite marks and damaged property
- Medical reports going into detail about your injuries
Your dog bite lawyer can help you determine what forms of evidence may have the most impact on your fight for dog bite compensation. Our team can then retrieve that evidence while you continue to prioritize your medical care and work schedule.
What Compensation to Request From a Negligent Dog Owner
The compensation you request in a dog bite accident claim can include the following:
- Medical expenses, including ambulance fees
- Property damage and restoration
- Lost wages, if applicable
- Pain and suffering
Remember, you must take additional steps to prove negligence if you want to recover more than coverage for your medical expenses after a dog bite accident. Make sure you talk to a New York dog bite attorney about what compensation you want from a dog bite claim and what evidence you need to make it easier for you to recover.
How to Work With an Uncooperative Dog Owner
In an ideal world, dog owners would work with you to overcome the expenses tied to your accident. Unfortunately, not every dog owner behaves reasonably in the face of a threat to their dog. While civil action will never endanger a dog’s life, it can make an owner feel destabilized in their care.
As such, a dog owner may refuse to meet with you after a dog bite accident. If you still want to financially recover from an accident involving a bite, you may need to take your case to trial.
Dog owners who do acknowledge the reality of their dogs’ bad behavior may instead choose to meet with you for private negotiations. Negotiations tend to resolve faster than trials by allowing you to meet face-to-face with the party responsible for your losses. Our dog bite lawyers in New York can be present throughout these conversations to keep them on topic.
Book a free Dog Bite Case Evaluation Today
Dogs may be humankind’s best friends, but that doesn’t mean that all dogs are well-behaved. If you find yourself struggling to get back on your feet after a dog bite accident, let the New York dog bite attorney with Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP fight for you. We can help you hold a dog’s owner accountable for their negligence under New York’s one-bite law.
The one-bite law allows you to financially recover from an accident that forced you to go to the hospital and take time off of work. Are you ready to learn more? You can contact our team today by calling (516) 358-6900 or connecting with us online. Also, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
